Search form

Search form

An African rock python killed a 60-pound Siberian husky in mere minutes, and Florida authorities are planning to find and euthanize as many of the invasive species as possible to protect people, pets and wildlife. "Because they are not native, the other species are not equipped to deal with them," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Carli Segelson. "Florida has a lot of protected species, and these snakes can prey upon small animals, reptiles and birds."

Related Summaries

Researchers at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found a new species of black bass in 2007 in the Chipola River. The fish had a DNA profile that differed from any other known fish. "We chose the name 'Choctaw bass' because the species' range overlaps the historic range of the Choctaw Indians. As for our recommended scientific name, Micropterus haiaka, 'haiaka' is a Choctaw word that means 'revealed,' " said researcher Mike Tringali.

In "The Simpsons," townsfolk gather each year to whack snakes -- and now the state of Florida is to hold a real-life version of Whacking Day. Starting Jan. 12 and lasting for a month, the state will encourage people to hunt down and kill Burmese pythons, with cash prizes offered for the longest snake carcass and for the most snakes killed overall. "Part of the goal ... is to educate the public to understand why non-native species like Burmese pythons should never be released into the wild," says Kristen Sommers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

While visiting a park near St. Petersburg, Fla., Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez reportedly rode on the back of a manatee for "so long that people were taking photographs of it," said Bruce Bartlett, a chief assistant state attorney. The action would be a violation of the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, and Gutierrez faces 60 days in jail and/or a penalty of as much as $500 if convicted. If manatees become acclimated to people and associate them with food, it could hurt their chances of survival, said Carli Segelson, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman.

Officials estimate tens of thousands of invasive Burmese pythons are roaming the Florida Everglades and their diet consists of native wildlife, including 25 bird species. New research shows the snakes also seek out bird nests and ingest the eggs, prompting concerns the snakes may affect the reproductive success of several bird species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to ban imports and interstate trade of nine constrictor snakes, including the Burmese python. The snakes are invasive species and considered a threat to fragile ecosystems in Florida and elsewhere.